come with full planting, spacing and cultivating instructions for beginner gardeners

tubers should be potted up when they arrive and be kept in a light, frost-free place until the frosts are over and then be planted into the garden.

This can be gift wrapped in our exclusive hessian sack, with ribbon and a Sarah Raven gift card. You will be able to add this to your basket once you begin the checkout process. To add a gift message to your order, simply fill out the details at the delivery stage of the checkout.

Please note: only items which are showing ‘in stock’ can be gift wrapped.

Genus

Dahlia

Group/Species

Anemone Group,

Centre compromises of dense elongated tubes rather than a disc. The outer parts have one or more rings of flattened petals. Click here for more information about dahlia groups.

Decorative Group,

Broad and flat petals, normally bluntly pointed, with no central disc showing. Click here for more information about dahlia groups.

Miscellaneous Group

Orchid-flowered and Peony-flowered types are classified as Miscellaneous. Also includes Double Orchid-flowered, Bishop, Mini Bishop and Star dahlias. Click here for more information about dahlia groups.

Variety

Purple Flame,
Soulman,
Waltzing Mathilda

Type

Tender Perennial Tuber

Common Name

Dahlia

Border Position

Back,
Middle

Bulb Size

I

Soil Type

Acid,
Chalky,
Fertile,
Neutral

Scent

Unscented

Site

Full Sun

Moisture

Moist but Well-drained

Spacing

Plant just under the soil surface, 75cm (30in) apart.

Sowing, Seeds, Planting

Pot them up undercover March or early April in a generous pot (at least 2 litre) filled with multi-purpose potting compost. Place them in a light, frost-free place and keep the compost moist. Pinch out their growing tips when they have reached about 8" tall. They will have formed bushy plants by the time the frosts have ended and will be in flower by the beginning of July. If you don’t have anywhere to grow the potted tubers, you can put them straight into the ground when the frosts are nearly over, mulching them or protecting with a cloche or protective horticultural fleece if the foliage appears before the frosts are over, but this will delay flowering.

Care Tips

Support with a stout stick, tie in every couple of weeks. In the south you can mulch deeply and overwinter them in the ground, alternatively, lift and overwinter your dahlias frost free undercover.

Flowering

July - November

Vase Life

Only pick dahlias in full flower. Recut the hollow stem ends under water to avoid airlocks.

Cooking Notes

All dahlia flowers are edible. I use the petals scattered over salad and to decorate a range of puddings.

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Delivery

Bulb Delivery -
When in stock, please allow up to 5 days for despatch.

Click here to find out more information about our delivery rates and times.

Velvet Dahlia Collection reviews

Average based on 8 reviews

Reviewed 20th April 2020 by Anne

All the items I ordered arrived in a timely manner at what must be a very challenging time for Sarah Raven. All plants were in excellent condition and are thriving.Customer service team were very helpful over the phone.Thank you.

Reviewed 11th August 2019 by Mary

Only 1 grew. The other is nice

Reviewed 3rd August 2019 by Celia

I ordered my dahlias when they were on sale at 50% off. I didn't expect the tubers to be as plump and large as they were. Packaged beautifully too with recyclable/compostable materials.
I planted my dahlias in tubs after allowing them to sprout and they are just coming into bloom. They look fantastic (apart from a few buds & leaves which have been nibbled by caterpillars.

Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Claire

Good service but one went soggy and had to be thrown away and one is really lanky. No flowers yet but I’m sure the rest will be lovely!

Gorgeous

Reviewed 9th October 2016 by jane priestley

These are just as beautiful as the picture suggests . This was my first time growing dahlias and all the plants have turned out really well . They are tall , bushy and full of flowers and buds - even now well into October

https://www.sarahraven.com/flowers/bulbs/dahlia-collections-2/velvet-dahlia-collection.htm229248Velvet Dahlia Collectionhttps://sarahraven.images.blucommerce.com/sarahraven/product/229248_1.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&bluhash=f20b867d40616cc7434aa873ab97c545&w=200&h=200&fit=crop&s=0c2baf0eb15c09e12cdfc3cc3c8148a211.95GBP11.95OutOfStockFlowers/Bulbs/DahliasFlowers/Bulbs/Dahlia CollectionsFlowers/BulbsFlowersChristmasInspire MeTop 10The mix of luscious colours and textures in this dahlia collection look perfect in the garden and the vase.48